Plans for up to 20 affordable homes on the edge of a Stone estate have been thrown out by Stafford Borough Council – just months after the application was given the green light.

A previous application to build 10 homes on the land between Blackies Lane and Saddler Avenue at Aston Lodge was refused permission last year.

And the latest bid submitted by Fradley Estates was previously considered by Stafford Borough Council planning committee in May, when councillors voted to approve it subject to conditions.

The application had been submitted as a rural exception site – a small area used for affordable housing in a location where such sites would not normally be used for housing.

But following that meeting a letter was received “suggesting that the decision was flawed in that it is based on a mis-application of the relevant planning policy”, a report to last week’s planning committee said.

A legal opinion was sought on the application of relevant housing policy and the plan was reconsidered at last week’s meeting.

Dr Qamar Siddiqi, objecting to the application on behalf of Aston Lodge and Stone Residents’ Association, said: “We have several ongoing concerns about this proposed development.

“The approval of this application was based on this being classed as a Rural Exception Site. We would class it as an urban green space.

“The case officer describes it as being adjacent to an existing settlement. Stone is a market town; it cannot be considered a rural community.”

Ward councillors Joyce Farnham and Geoff Collier called the application in for further discussion by the planning committee.